STANDARDS AND LABELS: SOME REFERENCES (NON-EXHAUSTIVE LIST):

A standard is "a document established by consensus and approved by a recognized organization that provides, for common and repeated use, rules, guidelines or features, for activities or results, that ensure a level of order optimal in a given context "(definition from ISO / IEC Guide 2: 2004). At the international level standards are determined and governed by the International Standard Organization (ISO). ISO brings together all national standardization organizations. In France it is the French Association of Normalization AFNOR. At the ISO meeting, the Technical Committee (TC) 34 is interested in food products and Subcommittee 15 at the Café in particular. Important standardization work on the quality of coffee as raw material and processed is carried out. These standards also affect the environmental aspects. However, concerning these aspects of other AFNOR or ISO committees, they are specifically interested. AFNOR recently worked on a Fair Trade Actors Charter. There are international standards for environmental management (ISO 9000), health and safety at work (OHSAS 18001) and corporate social responsibility (SA 8000). There is also a standard used by manufacturers engaged in a process of differentiation of their products by eco-design (ISO 14 040). www.afnor.org and www.iso.org/iso/fr

Public or private labels: A label is characterized by a set of specifications defined in a collective approach by the actors representing a sector. Voluntary, it sets stricter requirements than the regulations and guarantees a significant environmental and / or social quality of the product, and it is controlled with efficiency and impartiality.

Organic Farming: Exclusive property of the French Ministry in charge of agriculture which defines the rules of use, the mark AB guarantees at the same time: - A food composed of at least 95% of ingredients resulting from the organic mode of production , implementing agronomic and farming practices that respect natural balances, the environment and animal welfare. - Compliance with French regulations. - Certification by an approved inspection and certification body. by the French Ministries of Agriculture and Fisheries, the Economy of Finance and Industry.

Max Havelaar France is a private non-governmental association of international solidarity of Dutch origin whose purpose is to use the trade to allow peasants and employees of the southern hemisphere to live from their work, in full autonomy. Max Havelaar Association does not buy or sell any products. It manages a label affixed to products of different brands. Fair trade is an exchange, consumers buy here products bearing the label, whatever the brand. There, producers live their work, respect the environment and come together to decide their own future. Max Havelaar labeled products are subject to regular control by FLO-Cert, an independent certifying body, in order to to ensure the respect of the criteria of fair trade. www.maxhavelaarfrance.org

The Common Code for the Coffee Community, commonly known as "4C" enacts a number of production rules that are part of a sustainable development approach: environmentally friendly productions, respect for social rules, economic development of communities. These rules can be easily followed and participate in a general coffee improvement program. This approach involving a large number of stakeholders throughout the sector is supported by the International Coffee Organization and federated jointly by industry and the agricultural sector.

www.sustainable-coffee.net

Rainforest-alliance is a New York-based private non-governmental organization whose goal is to preserve biodiversity and ensure sustainable livelihoods for people by promoting good field-based cultural practices, improving business relationships and practices. land use and encouraging responsible behavior on the part of the consumer. Rainforest-allaince sets standards to conserve wild life (flora and fauna) and the well-being of the communities that live on it. www.rainforest-alliance.org

UTZ certified is a global certification program for responsible coffee production. UTZ means "good" in the Mayan language. UTZ certifies coffees whose modes of production and quality meet social and environmental requirements. www.utzcertified.org

AAA sustanaible quality program is an individual company initiative aimed at guaranteeing producers of exceptional coffees a quality of life and to consumers a quality of coffee meeting higher requirements in terms of both culture and social terms.

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Cup of excellence is a competition that according to strict rules determines the best coffee produced in a country each year. The winners are selected by professional juries of tasters. It is mainly the organoleptic qualities which are examined however the qualification is a reference also in term of excellence of production. www.cupofexcellence.org